Caitlin O'Connell's Blog, page 7

Who’s Your Daddy?

This year we are collecting DNA samples from the ele herds to help us figure out who is related to whom. Since ele dads are long gone by the time a calf is born, it can get quite complicated.

Racing to the Water Hole

Youngsters from Big Momma’s herd race to be the first to hit the mud after a hot day!

Newborn!

Big Momma came into the water hole with a brand new baby ele yesterday! It is probably only a few days old, still pink behind the ears and a little wobbly on its feet. Way to go Big Momma!

Happy July 4th

The newly named Princess Herd heads off into the sunset to enjoy their 4th of July in the peace and quiet of the African Savannah.

Pharaohs at Dusk

The spectacular Pharaoh Herd came in at Dusk today. All trumpeting and dramatic.

Even Mud Bathing has to be Learned

One of the mom eles from the newly named Authors Herd teaches her tiny little calf how to take a mud bath at Mushara water hole.

Surrounded

Shooting from the bunker today to get close ID photos of a new herd that we have not seen frequently enough to name. Lots of new moms by the looks of it. Will name the herd soon…

25 Years at Mushara!

This year is the 25th year we’ve been studying eles at Mushara. To celebrate, Caitlin wrote a blog post for National Geographic about what has been going on with the different ele characters at the water hole. Catch the article here.

The ele in the picture above is Smokey. One of the most reliable return characters at Mushara over the past decade. He is always in musth when we come into the field, and always mixing it up with the ladies with his crazy trunk twists and confident swagger.

Romping in the Desert

Over 100 eles showed up at the field site today, all within about 30 minutes
of each other. The Pharoes, Boxers, Big Momma’s Herd and a splinter group of
the Athletes were there, all jostling and trumpeting at each other for access
to the best water. One of the moms decided to take a sand bath after her drink
and the kids piled on for heck of it!

Rumble in the Jungle

Mushara 2017 field season got off to a bang with an awesome tusk cracking, trunk whacking tussle between the young ele bull Spock (picture right) and William (on the left). Its clear Spock is eager for prime time.